Lahore Digital Arts Festival: A Six-Year Journey of Innovation, Inclusion, and Imagination
In Pakistan, on April 29 — this year signifies the sixth anniversary of the Lahore Digital Arts Festival (LDF), an innovative event that has transformed the landscape of digital creativity in the country.
Established in 2019 by digital visionary Najamul Assar, LDF has emerged as a guiding light for creators who merge technology, culture, and social change in their work.
After collaborating with visual artist Omar Gilani on the project Pakistan+: A Journey through the Future, Najam noticed a significant lack of digital arts facilities within Pakistan’s cultural sector. To address this gap, LDF was established and has expanded into an extensive international event featuring exhibitions, artist residency programs, research initiatives, and educational opportunities as key components.
"Najam explains that although there was immense talent around, there wasn’t enough exposure or an environment to nurture digital artists,” states Najam, who is actively working towards a PhD in Digital Arts at the University of British Columbia. “The LDF started as a way to address this void and has since evolved into a significant movement.”
The development of LDF has showcased both innovative creativity and significant influence within institutions. The festival regularly presents pressing global topics tailored for Pakistani viewers. Their three main biannual themes—Post Reality, Metaverse Bodies, and Women vs Machines—have tackled essential discussions about identity, physical presence, gender dynamics, authority, and digital authenticity.
In 2023, LDF organized Pakistan’s biggest digital art event ever, attracting more than 25,000 attendees at nine locations throughout Lahore. This extensive citywide showcase presented works by 74 artists hailing from 14 different nations and encompassed interactive installations, live performances, and community-oriented activities. Additionally, the festival introduced a significant web-based program designed to assist artists in establishing and thriving as digital business owners—a venture which has already aided numerous up-and-coming talents.
Apart from organizing exhibitions, LDF has conducted essential research, such as charting the landscape of Pakistan’s digital art sector. Additionally, they have established enduring partnerships with international entities like EUNIC.
At the core of LDF lies a strong dedication to accessibility and intersectionality. The festival often transforms non-traditional exhibition areas such as public structures, marketplaces, and thoroughfares into venues for showcasing digital art, ensuring it reaches everyone, not only those who typically attend art events.
“We aim for people to view LDF as their own,” states Najam. “The focus here is broadening the cultural vision of Pakistan—not only for artists, but also for various communities.”
In the future, LDF aims for regional growth by introducing carefully selected exhibitions to various cities throughout Pakistan. Additionally, they are negotiating with international festivals to display Pakistani digital art overseas—thus connecting local stories with an international audience even more effectively.
Founder Najam Ul Assar remains at the helm of the project as he completes his PhD in Digital Arts at the University of British Columbia, guided by Dr. Megan Smith. He is among the pioneering Pakistanis to undertake doctoral studies in this discipline.